This urban legend was submitted by Jonathan Boon; an English teacher in Japan (originally from the UK) who enjoys boxing and urban exploration, and is a passionate writer of horror stories. Johnathan's short stories 'Mr. Ellington' and 'Drained' have earned finalist rankings in fiction writing, and have been published in horror magazines.

Help a fellow Hider by following him on Twitter for upcoming horror releases:@Johnbtk27

Home to one of the nation's most controversial urban legends, the history of a sleepy lake in Kodama hides a secret which is believed to have led to a number of suicide-murder cases; the most notorious being that of the Arai Family.

Kanna Lake is an artificial body of water birthed by the construction of Shimokubo Dam. Although notoriously detested by locals, the Shimokubo Dam was the Government's solution to prevent further flooding after the chaos of Typhoon Kathleen which brought about the deaths of over a thousand people in 1947.

The decision to build the dam led to a number of unfortunate circumstances which stemmed from cautionary tales that the mountains and land of the area were religiously sacred. To build the dam was to mar the energy of the landscape; souring the purity into a malevolent curse – a factor the people of a local town argued vehemently alongside the news of losing their homes to Lake Kanna.

Shimokubo Dam was built as a protective measure against future flooding, but the project was detested by locals. Image: Shimokubo Dam (2008)www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimokubo_Dam

According to urban legend, the dam construction was a bitter affair in which multiple accidents cost workers their lives. The number of deaths was said to be so high that not all of the bodies were discovered, evidenced by sources claiming corpses could be spotted washing directly into Kanna Lake – too many to be retrieved by officials as they sank to join the empty homes of the inundated town below.

To add to the legend, it is believed the deceased workers were local townspeople who were hired to construct the dam; the decision which led to the loss of their homes also led to the loss of their lives.

Jaded by despair, a portion of the townspeople migrated to an area close to Kanna Lake. The Government made fruitless attempts to quell the turmoil surrounding the lingering affects of the Shimokubo Dam; erecting a Buddhist statue thanking the townspeople for their sacrifice.

It is said the resentment led to Saitama's most controversial urban legend: the House of Arai.

The House of Arai was abandoned after a family was brutally murdered. It is believed the curse of Kanna Lake drove the father insane.Image: House of Arai (2013)Creative rights to 6Frogswww.ameblo.jp/6blogs/entry-10873964818.html

The Arai family were believed to be of those who had been forced to move from their home due to the construction, and settled close by to the lake in a small village of people similarly named 'Arai'.

While the bitterness of the dam's existence was undisputed, the father of the Arai family was said to be particularly anguished by the circumstances.

Argued to originally be a very sociable and friendly person, the Arai father became paranoid and aggressive towards neighbours and family. Sources claim he was hearing whispers, and he complained at night of a woman screaming.

It is believed he succumbed to insanity, and one evening brutally murdered his wife and children before taking his life in the bathroom of the family home.

Depending on the source of the legend, the weapon of choice varies between a knife, a gun, and a chainsaw.

The scene was said to to deeply disturb the remaining villagers, who placed a memorial and jizo statues in order to mourn the loss.

Sources claim anyone who takes something from the home receives a frightening message from an unknown sender demanding they return it.

It is highly disputed whether the murder occurred; there are no police records suggesting a murder – particularly a high-profile case of a family slaughter.According to urban investigators who have visited the area, the former Arai family home is derelict beyond recognition, but the monuments dedicated to a family named 'Arai' and jizo statues sit within the vicinity.

Although thoroughly researched and investigated, it is unknown whether the urban legend is true or false, however there are a number of uncanny coincidences which others have experienced when visiting a nearby bridge situated on the lake.

The nearby Kanna Lake is believed to be infested with a curse, particularly Kanpira Bridge - known locally as Kotohira Bridge (琴平橋) – which finished being constructed in the April of 1968.

Along with reports of disembodied female screams, ghostly hands protruding from the water to grab at visitors, and a paralysing sense of deep unease, the bridge is most commonly recognised as being a hotspot for vehicle-related deaths and suicide.

Kanpira Bridge is believed to be the most infested location of the curse. Along with hearing screams, and feeling sudden urges to murder, a number of visitors have been driven to suicide. Image: Kanpira Bridgewww.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a1001/doboku-sansaku/konpirabashi

In particular, visitors who have stood in the centre of the bridge claim to have felt a strong sense to leap to their death; some have also added feeling a set of hands shove their back.One of the most common occurrences is the powerful surge of rage which grips visitors.There are a number of reports which entail a sudden, murderous sense of fury and disgust; particularly if travelling with family or friends. The urge to 'dispose' of companions becomes so overwhelmingly strong that visitors have expressed their horror in gaining composure momentarily before shoving a friend from the bridge, veering off the road while driving at fast speeds, or stabbing a companion as their back is turned.

If true, sources have linked the experiences of visitors to that of which the Arai family's father may have succumbed to.

Branching from the initial decision to construct a dam in a sacred area, the urban legend surrounding Kanna Lake in Kodama has gained great controversy in whether or not the area is cursed; particularly in terms of the Arai family's murder, and the multiple accidents – also argued as suicide attempts – of the visitors to the area.

If you enjoyed reading House of Arai, check out these similar articles on Hiding from Japanese Ghosts: